By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, has described as false U.S. President Donald Trump’s allegation of genocide against christians in Nigeria.
NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, stated this yesterday at a press conference following Trump’s recent military invasion threat over the alleged genocide.
Oloyode, who dismissed the U.S. allegation as false and dangerous, added that it was part of a foreign plot to destabilise Nigeria.
He therefore, pointed out that “There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria. Terrorists kill both Muslims and Christians.
“They are not representatives of Islam; they are our enemies”, he said.
Besides, he criticised Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, politically motivated and misleading.
The secretary-general then accused foreign lobbyists and extremist groups of promoting false narratives to undermine Nigeria’s unity.
The real genocide is happening in Gaza and alleged genocide is diversionary amid the U.S. unhappiness with Nigeria’s support for Palestine at the UNGA, he noted.
He expressed disappointment with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for aiding the genocide claim.
In this vein, Oloyode called muslims and christians to work together with a view to ending insecurity in the country.
He recalled that the CPC designation was lifted by the previous U.S. administration in 2023 when America acknowledged Nigeria’s complex security reality.
Oloyede described the re-imposition of the designation as an act of political cynicism comparable to that imposed on China and Russia.
He said the decision was not based on new facts but driven by political lobbyists, adding that it undermined the true meaning of religious freedom.
Genuine friendship requires collaboration, intelligence sharing, and technical support; not the use of Nigeria’s security crisis as a pretext for interference, he added.
“We urge every nation of goodwill to assist Nigeria sincerely and not exploit our challenges under the guise of protection”, Oloyede said.
He stressed that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation capable of defending itself, rejecting any attempt to portray the conflict as government-led genocide.
“If the aim is to protect Nigerians, then cooperation with our armed forces is the right path, not unilateral intervention”, he added.
Oloyede warned that selective protection of one religious group would only deepen mistrust and misrepresent U.S. intentions among Nigerian Muslims.
He noted that Muslims would prefer to believe in America’s sincerity, urging President Trump to support Nigeria with logistics, equipment, and intelligence instead.
Speaking on Sharia law, Oloyede explained that Nigeria operates three constitutionally recognised legal systems — common law, Sharia law, and customary law.
He emphasised that Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, has the right to determine its own legal frameworks without external interference.
“There is no Christian genocide or Muslim genocide in Nigeria. The real tragedy is poverty, climate change, and criminality”, Oloyede stated.
He said global actors should resist attempts to exploit Nigeria’s insecurity for geopolitical advantage.
Furthermore, NSCIA called on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to protect all citizens and dismantle terrorist networks across the country.
It also urged the authorities to expose those spreading divisive narratives and confront foreign lobbyists working against Nigeria’s image.
However, commended the government’s resolve to engage the U.S. and other partners with dignity in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
He appealed to President Trump to retract his remarks branding Nigeria a “disgraced country” and instead offer credible intelligence and logistical assistance.
He said genuine assistance must come through partnership, not unilateral actions that could further fragment the Nigerian nation.
